CABI, in collaboration with key Kenyan partners, continues its crucial efforts to safeguard livelihoods and food security by combatting the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) across five additional major papaya-growing counties in Kenya.
Led by scientists from CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, the deployment of Acerophagus papayae, a safe and environmentally friendly biological control agent, marks a significant step in the fight against this destructive pest. The counties of Machakos, Makueni, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Baringo now join the previously targeted regions, bringing the total to eight counties benefiting from these efforts.
Funded through the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme and the Darwin Initiative project ‘Biocontrol of papaya mealybug in East Africa,’ the initiative supports over 150 plant clinics across Kenya, aiding farmers with plant health issues. The papaya mealybug, originally from Central America and first identified in Africa in 2010, poses substantial economic threats, with estimated crop losses amounting to £2,224 (about Ksh365,086) per hectare annually.
Successful outcomes have already been observed in Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi, where the biocontrol agent significantly reduced pest populations and nearly doubled papaya harvests on treated farms. Integrated Pest Management strategies, which include minimizing chemical pesticide use to support the efficacy of biological control agents, have been pivotal in these achievements.
Dr. Selpha Miller, leading the research and deployment efforts at CABI, emphasizes the efficacy of Acerophagus papayae, noting its ability to achieve substantial pest control within six months of deployment. The parasitoid’s success in establishing and thriving in various Kenyan environments underscores its potential as a cornerstone in sustainable pest management strategies, offering hope for enhanced crop yields and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the region.